In The Garden

Bigger Picture Moments at Hyacynth's today.

There are a lot of times of day that I think are my favorite. Waking my girls up and getting those few fleeting moments of warm, sleepy snuggles. Putting up the day's poetry to be memorized on my dry erase board, in rare quiet minutes in my classroom before everyone arrives. The moment when I close the book on a provocative sentences and dismiss my students amid groans of protest and wild speculations. Joey coming into my classroom during his lunch break to bring me a drink or a treat and to steal a kiss. Making dinner with Pandora blaring and the girls playing and the dogs underfoot. The last kisses and hugs before I close their bedroom doors for the night. Sinking into the bathtub with a book after the dishes have been done and the toys picked up and all my responsibilities met.

Each my favorite in its turn. Each the best possible part of the day. Each sometimes left unnoticed or turned to irritation. Each still beautiful the next day.

But I have one favorite part of my day that is never marred by anything. When it comes, there are no sighs or mixed feelings anywhere to be found.

Early in the morning, after I have sat with coffee and my laptop for a long time, I turn away from the screen and go outside. The grass and flowers and herbs that I'm growing need water. The light is cool and clean, the birds are singing madly.

Every day, the grass is greener and stronger, the flowers blooming brighter. Cool water refreshes us both.

I breathe deeply and there aren't any tensions lingering anywhere, anymore.

When I turn off the water hose, I go inside each morning with a quiet smile, my soul watered and growing and ready for a day filled with favorite times.